Suhonisov vs Vargas.Florentine Gardens, Hollywood:- Bash Boxing and Art of Boxing Promotions held their first bash (pardon the pun) for 2013 Thursday evening at this punky entertainment center in the middle of Hollywood.

The 8-fight card featured for the first time ever in their promotions two MMA fights that showcased the famous “Big John” McCarthy as the referee. McCarthy was the first head referee for the UFC.

Steve Bash and Kharen Harutyunyan featured the MMA fights as an attempt to measure the mixed martial arts interest of Hollywood fight fans.. Judging from the reaction of the fans, MMA will be a big part of the coming Hollywood Fight Nights.

The fight card opened with a super bantamweight bout between Erik Ruiz of the Robert Garcia Gym in Oxnard, CA and Oscar Venegas. Ruiz is undefeated with a 7-0-0 record and Oscar Venegas was listed as 3-2-0, 2KO. It was predicted by the ringside pundits as a cakewalk for Ruiz but Venegas came ready to fight and gave Ruiz all he can take. The fight ended with a split decision which could have gone either way. Ruiz however was given the nod, 59-55,58-56 and 56-58.

Martin vs Triantafillo.

The second fight featured two heavyweights, Charles Martin (6-0-0, 6KO) of St Louis, MO and an upstart Phillip Triantafillo (2-2-0, 2KO) of Chesterton, Indiana. Martin kept his record clean with a TKO at 1:24 of round 2.

The first MMA fight followed. It was between up and coming gladiators, welterweights Alex Suhonosov and Fernando Vargas. The three round fight was an exciting affair that elicited good fan reaction. In the end, Suhomosov won by a UD, 30-27,30-27 and 29-28.

Shabransky vs Wright.

The next fight was between two cruiserweights, Ukrainian Vyacheslav Shabransky (3-0-0) vs Emmanuel Wright (5-2-0, 5KO). Shabransky won by TKO 2:18 of round 4.

Another MMA fight followed. This time it was between two welterweights, Jason Borba and Marlon Magee. The fight appeared even with each fighter giving and taking kicks, elbows and punches. Borba however was a little busier thus winning by split decision, 29-28,29-28 and 28-29.

Borba vs Magee.

Vaughan vs Pearson.

Next was Wildcard Gym trained Liam Vaughan of Liverpool, UK.(7-1-0,1KO). Vaughan was handled in the corner by Marvin Somodio of the Philippines with Freddie Roach occasionally advising from outside the ring. Vaughan beat Antron Pearson (2-4-0,1KO) of Little Rock, Arkansas via a unanimous decision, 60-54,59-55 and 59-55. The third member in Vaughan’s team was Rob Peters, the guy who handles Manny Pacquiao’s security at the Wildcard Gym. Peters was the cutman.

In the supporting main event, Los Angeles’ Khabir Suleymanov (14-3-0, 6KO) who moved from the Wildcard Gym to the Hollywood Boxing Gym at Canoga Park, CA for a change in boxing strategies, beat Raymond Chacon (4-6-0). Chacon gave a very spirited fight forcing Suleymanov to use all his experiences to salvage a split decision . The scores were 58-56,58-56 and 56-58.

Suleymanov vs Chacon.

Williams vs Lugo.

In the main event, Terrell Williams (10-0-0, 9KO) of Los Angeles kept his record clean and sent home the crowd early with a 2nd round KO of journeyman Luis Alfredo Lugo (13-17-1, 5KO). Williams dropped Lugo in the first minute of round 2. Lugo beat the count but Williams finished him off at 1:56 of the same round. For whatever it was worth, Williams uses mouthguards custom fabricated for him by this writer.